CHAPTER 5: COLD AND HOT ATOMIC VAPORS: A TESTBED FOR ASTROPHYSICS?

Atomic physics experiments, based on hot vapors or laser-cooled atomic samples, may be useful to simulate some astrophysical problems, where radiation pressure, radiative transport or light amplification are involved. We discuss several experiments and proposals, dealing with multiple-scattering of light in hot and cold atomic vapors, random lasing in cold atoms and light-induced long-range forces, which may be relevant in this context.